Review excerpt from Music and Media Focus
5
By MDiamond
Question: what do the words magical, visionary, and grandiose and have in common?
Answer: they perfectly describe the new album, "Believe" by 2002.
Now celebrating their 20th year of recording together, they are one of the most enduring and highly regarded groups in the new age music genre. An expansion from this primarily instrumental ensemble is that 6 of the 10 songs on the CD feature vocals, including those of their 8 year-old daughter, Sarah. The album begins, in fact, with one of those vocal pieces - the title track. The mood is set first by piano and string sounds, with a wonderful tinkling arpeggio from a synthesizer, or perhaps a harp. After about a minute and a half, a cymbal swell ushers in the next movement with Randy singing:
"If you reach for a star
For the chance of a thousand lifetimes
If you let go of fear
In the moment your eyes are opened"
This excerpt, although brief, gives a glimpse into the inspiring lyrical direction the album takes. Mother and daughter join in on the lofty chorus entreating us to "Believe in the winds that carry your song," and "... the love that opens your heart." The second track is an instrumental that Sarah played a major role in. On "Chain of Life" an ambient synthesizer background adorned with Pamela's melodious flute create a rich sound tapestry for Randy's meaningful lyrics. An interesting evolution happens about two thirds of the way in, as the song breaks into a tribal beat and a chant of: "We are the children of the earth." With eyes closed I could almost imagine I was hearing a track from Disney's, "The Lion King."
The essence of the album's subtitle, "A Spiritual Romance," is evoked on an instrumental track called "We Meet Again." When I wrote about the previous CD by 2002, Damayanti, I mentioned, "It's hard not to overuse the word "lush" in describing the acoustic opulence this music is imbued with." This song is a perfect example. The ambience they create is majestic, in a way that I associate with the music of both, Diane and David Arkenstone, Enya, or Patrick O'Hearn. On "Ready To Fly" the female vocals take the lead. Besides the beautiful singing, some of the things I like most about this song are Pamela's harp and Randy's piano, which epitomize the glistening crystalline sounds that are often found in the music of 2002. The pace slows down considerably on the album's most ambient dreamscape, "Oasis," highlighting the impeccable balance of yin and yang exhibited on this CD. I was impressed not only with the way they blended vocal and instrumental songs, but also with the stylistic diversity and pacing.
2002 have created another sonic masterpiece that only furthers their standing as one of the most creative and prolific ensembles in new age music. As with all their releases, the production quality is absolutely stunning. The addition of vocals expresses their willingness to expand and evolve, exploring fresh musical terrain with each release. According to Randy and Pamela: Our goal with this new CD was to create an uplifting positive mood - full of hope for the future." If there was ever a time we needed something like that, the time is now. "Believe" is a virtuoso recording that will appeal to long time fans of 2002 and new listeners alike.
